After fully remote pandemic period, hybrid format of conferences strongly took a firm place and became the new norm, forcing sponsors to adapt their developer marketing strategies to effectively engage both in-person and virtual audiences. Successfully sponsoring a hybrid tech event is a challengeable story which requires a blend of digital and physical presence, creative engagement strategies, and a clear understanding of the approach to both in-person and remote audiences. The main mistake sponsors sometimes make is focusing on the in-person audience, which is much easier to reach but 4-5 times smaller in terms of attendance

In this article we explain how to avoid this mistake and maximize the impact of your developer marketing experience and share some key tips.

The Hybrid Structure Understanding

Combining in-person networking with virtual elements such as live streaming and a variety of digital networking activities, hybrid structure requires a well-balanced strategy that bridges the gap between physical and digital engagement. Before committing, ensure you understand the event format, audience demographics, and technological capabilities. Work closely with event organizers to determine features for better integration of your brand into both virtual and physical spaces.

Optimize Your Brand Presence

To maximize exposure, ensure your branding is visible across both digital and physical audiences. Consider:

• Virtual banners and sponsor logos during live-streamed sessions
• Ads rotation during breaks promoting your company
• MC’s pitching your product/service from the stage
• Physical banners, merchandise, and booths for in-person attendees
• Interactive dedicated pages with downloadable content and contact options

Keep in mind - to spend a lot on your booth set up doesn't equal to have a successful sponsorship. Wisely use all the opportunities provided by the organisers to achieve wide coverage and audience engagement. It will help you save costs on event sponsorship and become noticeable at the same time

Leverage Digital Engagement Tools

Engagement is key in hybrid settings. Take advantage of digital tools such as:

• Discussion rooms and Q&A sessions during live-streamed discussions
• Social media contests with event hashtags
• Chatbots for real-time interaction with attendees

Offer Exclusive Perks for Virtual and In-Person Attendees

Hybrid events offer unique opportunities to tailor your offerings. Some ideas include:

• Exclusive downloadable resources for virtual attendees
• Branded lounges  or special meet-and-greet sessions for in-person guests
• Discount codes or free trials for both audience segments
• Personalized swag shipped to virtual attendees within raffle campaigns

Measure and Analyze Performance

To assess ROI, track engagement metrics across both audience types. Key indicators include:

• Opt-in lists from both in-person and remote registrations
• QR-scanning tool for the booth visitors
• Live-stream watch time and engagement (chats, comments, shares)
• Social media mentions and hashtag usage

Follow Up with Both Audiences

After the event, keep the momentum going with personalized follow-ups. Send post-event emails tailored to in-person and virtual attendees, offering:

• On-demand recordings of sessions
• Special offers or discounts
• Invitations to future webinars or events
  

As you can see, preparatory work is definitely needed to determine the most effective approach for sponsoring hybrid events, including research of your target audience, understanding the unique dynamics of hybrid formats, and aligning your sponsorship goals with the event's objectives. Additionally, it is crucial to evaluate past sponsorship experiences, identify areas for improvement, and establish clear metrics for success. By investing time in these preparatory steps, you can ensure a more strategic and impactful sponsorship that maximizes both visibility and engagement.

If you’re ready to empower developers, build credibility, and shape the future of technology, it’s time to step up and sponsor GitNation events. For the past 10 years, GitNation has been at the forefront of organizing developer conferences focused on React & JavaScript, the languages dominating web development. Interested in sponsoring our events? Contact us: [email protected]